By Patrick Reynolds

Indianapolis, IN- An expression states that sometimes it is not what you say, but what you don’t say.

In turn, a person’s spirit may be felt stronger in absence than in being present.

The Indianapolis 500 was missing something this year. That something is the bigger than life character and personality of Dan Wheldon.

Wheldon won the 2011 version with an exciting last-lap pass of the limping and crashed car of leader J.R. Hildebrand.

The 500 was a one-off race for Wheldon’s Bryan Herta Autosport team. There were no concrete plans or funding available to continue after Indy. In the weeks that followed, Wheldon signed on for some TV commentary work. Then he wound up being the test driver for the new Dallara chassis as it was being developed.

Wheldon came into the 500 with no sign of continuing racing. But on this last Sunday in May for 2011, Cinderella’s shoe fit.
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